Rheims and the Battles for its Possession

by Pneu Michelin

Beyond Thil, the road passes between two embankments. Villers-Franqueux is soon reached. The ruined village and church are somewhat to the right.

RUINS OF VILLERS-FRANQUEUX

RUINED CHURCH OF HERMONVILLE

Hermonville

Follow the rails, straight ahead, to Hermonville.

Turn to the left, at the entrance to the village, into the large square, on the opposite side of which stands the Town Hall, partially destroyed. The Church is on the right.

This remarkable church is 12th century. The pointed vaulting of the nave was raised in 1870, but this had been provided for in the original plans. At the intersection of the transept the pointed vaulting is lower. The capitals with their finely carved palm-leaves appear to be rather more recent than those of the nave, and extend frieze-like round the pillars. The bays of the transept-arms and of the two square eastern chapels are round-arched and surmounted with a quatrefoil—an arrangement frequently met with in the vicinity of Rheims.